Adoption Counselor

Job Overview

The Adoption Counselor is responsible for guiding potential adopters through Friends of Strays’ open adoption process, ensuring each animal is placed in a safe and loving home. This role emphasizes education, empathy, and collaboration, helping adopters find a successful match while supporting the organization’s mission to maximize live outcomes for animals. Adoption Counselors play a key role in maintaining adoption standards, promoting responsible pet ownership, and providing exceptional customer service.

Key Responsibilities

1. Adoption Process Management

· Guide adopters through the open adoption process, using best practices to assess fit rather than imposing restrictive criteria.

· Conduct adoption counseling sessions, educating adopters on animal behavior, care needs, and expectations.

· Facilitate meet-and-greet sessions with animals, helping match pets to suitable homes.

· Review adoption applications and provide feedback in alignment with open adoption principles.

· Ensure all adoption paperwork, contracts, and fees are completed accurately.

2. Animal Assessment & Preparation

· Assist with animal assessments for behavior, medical status, and readiness for adoption.

· Collaborate with the Animal Care team to ensure animals are healthy, socialized, and adoption ready.

· Provide enrichment, training guidance, and behavior recommendations to improve adoptability.

3. Customer Education & Support

· Educate adopters on responsible pet care, training, and integration into the household.

· Provide follow-up support for post-adoption to ensure successful transitions.

· Address questions or concerns from visitors, potential adopters, volunteers, and foster caregivers.

· Answer phone calls, or route callers to appropriate department.

4. Collaboration & Program Integration

· Work closely with the Operations Director, Animal Care staff, and Foster Manager to ensure smooth adoption workflows.

· Support foster program by assessing and approving foster-to-adopt placements as needed.

· Communicate adoption trends, challenges, and feedback to the Operations Director for program improvement.

5. Recordkeeping & Reporting

· Maintain accurate adoption records in the shelter database.

· Track adoption metrics and outcomes to support reporting and strategic planning.

· Contribute to continuous improvement of adoption procedures and processes.

Qualifications

Required:

· 1–3 years of experience in animal sheltering, rescue, or customer-facing roles.

· Knowledge of animal behavior and care requirements.

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

· Ability to assess adopter needs, motivations, and lifestyle to support safe placements.

· Professional, compassionate, and customer-service-oriented demeanor.

Preferred:

· Familiarity with the open adoption model (Maddie’s Fund principles).

· Experience with adoption software or shelter management systems.

· Knowledge of dog and cat training, behavior modification, and enrichment strategies.

· Prior experience working in high-volume adoption programs.

Core Competencies

· Compassionate and nonjudgmental approach to adopters

· Effective communication and counseling skills

· Strong observation and assessment of animal behavior

· Team collaboration and problem-solving

· Accuracy and attention to detail in records and processes

· Ability to manage multiple adoptions simultaneously

Working Conditions

· Shelter environment with frequent interaction with animals and the public.

· Exposure to noise, allergens, and cleaning products.

· Flexibility to work weekends, evenings, or special adoption events.

· Physical requirements may include lifting up to 50 lbs, walking dogs, or handling animals safely.

The schedule for this position is Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (off Mon, Tues, Thurs), 8am-7pm.

Impact of the Role

Adoption Counselors are critical to Friends of Strays’ lifesaving mission, directly influencing live outcomes for animals. By applying the open adoption model, this role ensures animals are placed in loving homes while empowering adopters with education, support, and guidance. The Adoption Counselor fosters strong community relationships and enhances the organization’s reputation as a compassionate, progressive shelter.

Pay: $15.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person